Have you checked your sacrificial anode? If it’s gone, this will keep happening.
Anodes protect against corrosion. They don't do anything for hard water scale.
That's not entirely true: sacrificial anodes attract and collect calcium and magnesium as well as preventing rust.
The prevention of rust does slow scale accumulation because rust is a rough porous surface that scale likes to stick to. But other than that (anodes also are rough porous surfaces) I'm not aware of any way they actively reduce it. Maybe the electronic ones, but that's out of my wheelhouse (and they aren't sacrificial).
I have never heard of this before. Thanks for mentioning it.
The sacrificial anode is there to protect the steel tank. It lasts a long time. This is a hard water problem as everyone else is saying, and a water softener would solve the issue.
*Edit: check the very bottom of your tank since you have the elements out. It most likely has a pile of calcium and other minerals sitting on the bottom.
-a plumber
Anodes for the anode gods!
Was hoping someone remembered what that thing was called
that is a high fantasy wizard ass sounding name for a plumbing part
"Sire, the Sacrificial Anode...has failed."
"SOUND THE ALARMS!"
This is a hard water problem
How do I change it to easy water?
Hire Phil Collins
Skill issue then
I'll take some hard water
Absolut-ly
You really need to invest in a system that softens your water.
I'm guessing the inside of your tank looks just like this and swapping new heating elements in isn't going to fix that. Maybe try flushing it out first?
With vinegar or some other descaler
I'm not sure of vinegar is quite powerful enough. Somehow this seems like bigger problem
Vinegar is perfectly fine for that. With a bigger amount of minerals you just need more vinegar and time.
Jesus, how bad does your sacrificial anode look?
going from that, probably ate smooth up
Yikes! Hard water?
Hard water makes the anode rod dissolve faster
Have you inspected the anode rod?
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=hot+water+heater+aluminum+anode+rod&t=canonical&iax=images&ia=images
Also check out sites of sediment build up
That's why you should have a gas water heater if you have hard water. Electric units get wrecked by scale, regardless of a water softener.
But it’s a greenhouse gases contributor - electric is better. Check that anode commented below.
Anodes protect against corrosion. They don't do anything for hard water scale.
Looks like some types can help with hard water too
https://plumbingnav.com/water-heaters/anode-rod-by-water-type/
The active electronic ones may. I'll admit I don't know a lot about those.
Came with the house. Changing it out would not be fun.
Is anyone drinking this water?
When is the last time it got tested?
You ought to do a send away test. It's about $200 bucks on Amazon.
Check to see if your local government does this instead.
Another casualty of the auroral storm. Darn those cosmic rays!
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